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Does Chewing Gum Make You Fat?

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Chewing gum has stuck to its place in pop culture today. Studies have shown that each person consumes as many as 300 pieces of gum per year. But what do you really know about this sticky, sweet treat? Maybe, you have asked yourself Does chewing gum make you fat? Before we delve into this issue deeper, let us begin easy by exploring some of the advantages of chewing gum.

Firstly, chewing gum ensures that our mouths remain constantly open. We can easily breathe out the foul air from it and take in the fresh air which also prevents the growth of harmful bacteria on our teeth. It should also not be forgotten that these gums stimulate the production of saliva and as we are all aware, the wetter the mouth, the fresher the breath.

The second advantage of chewing gum is enhancement of fresh breath. Chewing gum helps in the enhancement of fresh breath in two ways. First, as we chew gum, we pass it across the different surfaces of our teeth and therefore help remove any food substances that may be stuck in the teeth surfaces. In effect prevent the growth of plaque bacteria which is responsible for bad breath.

Another advantage of chewing gum is the fact that it enhances confidence and self-esteem. This is because the act of chewing the gum helps fight anxiety and tension, helping us become braver and more confident in our pursuits. It is also observed that chewing gum stimulates the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory) and therefore those who chew gums have more retentive memories.

Lastly, chewing gum also helps with weight loss. There are many studies that reveal that consistent gum chewers consumer fewer calories than those who do not. Practically, it helps in managing appetite and food cravings which translates to eating less hence losing weight.

Aside from managing our appetite and food cravings, research further reveals that sugar-free gums contain a low-calorie sweeter known as sorbitol which is also associated with weight loss.

What about gum swallowing?

The old wives’ tale of gum staying in your stomach for seven years if you swallow it has been proven to be hogwash. Gum actually passes through your system like any other food you eat. Ironically, most gum has fiber in it, which works in your favor if you are hoping to avoid unnecessary weight gain. Swallowing a piece of gum should not cause you to pack on the pounds.

Does chewing gum make you fat?

Having clearly seen that chewing gum contributes to weight loss, we can safely arrive to the conclusion that chewing gum does not make us fat. However, this is not entirely true. When it comes to answering the debate of does chewing gum make you fat you can reach a relatively certain answer when you learn that most varieties of gum are made up of 60 to 70 percent sugar. Because chewing gum can have lots of sugar in it, you may choose the sugar-free variety or resist indulging in this sweet treat entirely. Before you pop in your next piece of gum, think about whether or not it can undermine your diet.

There is a piece of research that revealed that the mint-flavored gums leave us with a bad taste in the mouth when we eat fruits and vegetables, thereby making us more inclined to eat junky foods. However, chewing gum can help you lose weight and let us find out just how.

As already pointed out earlier, there is an undeniable connection between chewing gum and weight loss. It is observed that by chewing too much gum, there is a general reduction of food cravings and appetite which consequently leads to eating less and less frequently, thereby ensuring weight loss.

It is also observed that people who chew gums swallow a lot of air. When this air settles in our stomachs, it creates the sensation of a fuller stomach which also contributes to eating less.

»Chemicals in gums such as sorbitol have been identified as triggers of weight loss. »

Though there is little study to show just how this hormone contributes to weight loss, its presence in the sugar-free gums has been strongly associated with weight loss among individuals who chew gum.

All in all, you can invest in chewing gums that ensure you lose your weight objectively as opposed to spontaneously. Experts recommend that you insist on the healthiest sugar free gums as a safe alternative to the sugary varieties that pose great health risks to our teeth. You could also adopt a chewing gum diet which though may include junky foods, the possibility of these foods leading to weight gain is greatly reduced by the gums ability to fight the same.

So, does chewing gum make you fat? The answer is NO if you chew sugar-free gums.